The Olympic Century: The Official History of the Modern Olympic Movement

In preparation for 20 years, The Olympic Century: The Official History of the Modern Olympic Movement, a 24-volume series, begins rollout in November. A joint editorial undertaking (the International Olympic Committee, the U.S. Olympic Committee, 1st Century Project and World Sport Research & Publications) led by former chair of 1st Century Project, screenwriter Gary Allison, provides a definitive reference on all aspects of the Olympics. The first volume, The Ancient Olympiads & Bridges to the Modern Era: Ancient Olympia 2100 BC to AD 1894, explains the origins of the games and provides historic information nuggets (the first Olympiad was a race in 776 B.C.; Diagoras of Rhodes was the Olympic boxing champion in 464 B.C.). Subsequent volumes explore each Olympiad from 1896 through the 1998 games (with 2000 and 2002 to be released in 2004). Each volume contains its own reference section with statistics, notes, credits, bibliography and index.